Eating Disorders Treatment
Helping you navigate the toughest competition of your life.
Excellence in Eating Disorder Care
Athletes are commonly thought of as mentally tough and resilient.
People mistakenly assume that the very traits which allow athletes to excel in sport will protect them from the development of eating disorders. These traits include being self-sacrificing, high-achieving, and people-pleasing in addition to having high tolerances for suffering. These might be the very traits that become athletes’ greatest assets as competitors. Their willingness to work hard and do all of the extra “little” things may even elevate them from “good” to “great.”
However, these very same traits can also pave the way for eating disorders to develop.
And, the truth is, athletes never choose to develop an eating disorder. They choose to work harder and make sacrifices to develop a competitive edge. That determination to become the best version of themselves competitively might become the slipperiest slope that they ever slide down.
An Athletes’ best of intensions can merge right into the development of an eating disorder.
At time like these, the care of eating disorder specialists who are trained in the nuances of supporting athletes can be integral to improving an athlete’s mental and physical health
Eating disorder recovery is not a simple choice.
Its not a matter of stopping one thing and doing something else. In the case of eating disorders, research confirmed that neurotransmitters lead to brain imbalances which athletes simply cannot outthink. These imbalances make doing the obvious things painfully difficult even though athletes might clearly understand the consequences of continuing to engage in disordered eating behaviors.
Athlete Insight recognizes that athletes need specialized care. Our eating disorder clinicians are committed to providing excellence in care to support eating disorder recovery. Our goal is to help restore their health, live their best lives, and perform at the top of their sports.
We offer a complimentary discovery call during which we can learn more about you and you can learn more about our team, experience, and philosophy.
We invite you to reach out today.
We Are Here For You
Kate Bennett, PsyD
I meet all athletes exactly where they are at, as humans first. Together, we identify goals to meet your life and sport needs. When you work with me, you get a therapist and a coach. My goal is to provide the “right-for-you” tools, strategies, and insights to support you in becoming the most confident and resilient version of yourself in both sport & life.
Specialties - Eating disorders, sport & performance enhancement, anxiety, perfectionism, career/life transition, confidence & resilience, sport trauma, return from injury
Populations - Adolescence (14+yo), Adults
Publications - Treating Athletes with Eating Disorders (Routledge Press), Eating Disorders in Special Populations - Chapter: Eating Disorders in Athletes (CRC Press)
Licenses - Colorado
Amy Laurent, MD
At Athlete Insight, I offer psychiatric care to athletes in an outpatient setting. I take a collaborative approach with my clients, working alongside them and other members of their team to empower them in leading their healthiest and most balanced lives. As a psychiatrist, I prescribe medication thoughtfully, considering the unique biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to each individual's story. I strongly believe that an athlete's mental health is just as important as their physical well-being, and I view medication management as one of the many tools that can help them achieve optimal performance in a healthy manner.
Specialties - Eating disorders, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, substance abuse
Populations - Late Adolescence (16+yo), Adults
Affiliations - Member of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry
Licenses - Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Hawaii, Michigan, Maine, Texas, Vermont, Washington
Amanda Tierney, MS, CSCS, CEDS-C
Sometimes clients (or their loved ones) feel lost when reintegrating sport/fitness training back into their life when recovering from an eating disorder, being side-lined to injury, navigating the transition out of competitive athletics, or after facing painful experiences within athletic settings.
I understand that each athlete has a unique story when it comes to their experiences of movement. I meet athletes exactly where they are at to help lead them through the nuances of the fitness world with kindness, support and empowerment.
I strive to create a safe, welcoming, and size-inclusive coaching environment to best support athlete’s unique challenges while working towards sport, movement and recovery goals.
Specialties - Competitive-athletes, Recreational-athletes, Retired-athletes, Injured-athletes, Burnt-out athletes, Movement Enthusiasts, Individuals new to exercise, Individuals healing from toxic-fitness practices
Populations - Children, Adolescents, Adults
Affiliations - Body Positive Fitness Alliance (BPFA, 501c3), Therapeutic Exercise Alliance for Movement in eating disorders (TEAMed)
FAQs
How do I know what type of treatment to pursue?
Navigating eating disorder care can be confusing! The level of care depends on a few factors including medical stability, support, motivation, and readiness for change. Athlete Insight provide outpatient care which means that we meet with athletes, individually, on a weekly basis to support behavioral and cognitive changes. Athletes must be medically stable to engage in outpatient care.
Which providers do I need on my care team?
At a minimum, an eating disorder treatment team consists of a specialized eating disorder therapist, a nutritionist, and a medical provider. From there, athletes may need the support of a psychiatrist/med provider, family therapist, fitness specialist, and/or physical therapist. It is important that each provider on your care team has knowledge and experience in supporting eating disorder recovery. For younger athletes, parents are integrated into the treatment plan and become a part of the care team.
I don’t look like I have an eating disorder. Am I actually sick enough to require care?
Yes! You do not have to “look sick” to have an eating disorder. In fact, athletes who do not “look like they have an eating disorder” can be as medically compromised as individuals who appear to have one. If you are trapped in disordered eating behaviors, find yourself preoccupied with your body image, or experience distress when your food and exercise routines are disrupted, then you are sick enough. You deserve care!
What if I don’t have an eating disorder? I just have REDS.
Athlete Insight can help you, too! The treatment for REDS is quite similar to the treatment of eating disorders. We understand that not all athletes who develop REDS also develop eating disorders. And, we also know that recovering from REDS can be mentally tough. We can provide the psychological support that you deserve to help navigate the path towards restoring your physical health.
Can athletes have binge eating disorder?
YES!!! Eating disorders do not discriminate. This means that any BODY can have any type of eating disorder. We have treated many athletes who struggle with binge eating disorder. You are most certainly welcome to reach out for help, we are here for you!
I am a guy…can you help me too?
Absolutely! We see just as many males at Athlete Insight as we do females. The fact is that eating disorders are not sex-based. Highly driven males are just as susceptible to developing eating disorders as females. We appreciate the unique struggles that males face in recovery from eating disorders. Please do not hesitate to reach out, you deserve help too!
